Schools dismissed for fair in 1918, shoe shine price hiked

Today's sentimental journey is taking us to 1918, the last year of World War I, which ended Nov. 11, 1918, and when the Boston Red Sox defeated the Chicago Cubs in the 1918 World Series.

Our first item appeared in the Marion Daily Star on Saturday, Aug. 3, 1918, and was datelined San Francisco Aug. 3 with this headline. "PRICE OF SHINES IS GOING HIGHER."

The shine, like the shave, now joins the mobilized industries of the country in raising prices as a war measure. San Franciscans now pay fifteen cents, besides the tip.

Next, from the Marion Daily Star on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 1918, we have some news from the schools with this headline: "WHOOPEE! SCHOOL WILL BE DISMISSED FOR FAIR." Followed by this smaller lead-in. "Board Decrees Kids Shall Have Two-Day Vacation." Then "But It Must Not Interfere with Studies - That Overcrowded Condition in Schools."

Marion schools will be dismissed Thursday and Friday of next week so that the boys and girls may attend the Marion County Fair. This action was taken last night at a called meeting of the local board of education.

Following the above in the same article was the following paragraph leader, "Patriotic Song Cards."

The supply committee was authorized with power to act to see to the printing of 5,000 cards with a dozen patriotic songs printed on them, the same to be distributed among the schools.

The same committee was also given the power to act and investigate the matter of securing a piano for the Silver Street building.

K.H. Marshall was re-elected a member of the city school examining board for a period of two years.

Miss Mildred McAfee was elected as teacher of the sixth grade at the Olney Avenue building and Miss Mella VanMeter was elected teacher of the first grade at the Garfield building.

During the discussion on the congested condition of the schools in East Marion, Superintendent Hartman announced certain changes which had been made to relieve the condition somewhat and added that at present no other changes could be made to relieve the congestion. Several of the lower grades at both the Forest lawn and Greenwood buildings have been put on half-day sessions, while one grade of mixed grades has been established at both buildings. If there is a large increase in enrollment in these schools later in the fall, it will be necessary for Superintendent Hartman to transfer the seventh grade of the schools to the Junior High school building.

The board, however, was pleased with the manner that Superintendent Hartman had handled the conditions, although it is the hope of each board member that soon adequate room may be found so that all the students can be housed more comfortably and under less crowded conditions.

From the Tuesday, Sept. 3, 1918, Marion Daily Star we have this item and headline. "SOLDIER IS CHARGED SIXTY CENTS FOR PIE."

As a result of complaints that soldiers were charged 60 cents for a pie at the Erie Restaurant, an investigation has been started through the mayor's court.

The alleged charge was made a short time ago, and since then the management of the place has been changed.

J. P. Scully, who was the manager at the time, is now the manager of the place at Chillicothe. The matter is being taken up with John H. Murphy, the conductor of the place. The present manager states that only 40 cents is being charged for pie.

From the Marion Daily Star on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 1918, we have this headline and article: "VICE IN MARION TO BE BARRED BY UNCLE SAM." Followed by "Order Affects Joints in Ten-Mile Radius."

Commercialized vice in Marion will be wiped out by the government under a ruling received here.

Under the new government order, vice is barred within a radius of 10 miles of any military or naval establishment, under penalty of $1,000 fine and a year's imprisonment.

The order is interpreted to apply to the recruiting station here.

The law is also framed as to apply to any person or corporation who in any way aids in the furtherance of commercialized vice, so that persons or corporations renting houses used for immoral purposes, would be equally liable.

The law is framed along the lines of those in some states, such as Indiana, where the owner of the property used for immoral purposes can be prosecuted.

Finally, from the Marion Daily Star on Wednesday, Feb. 13, 1918, we have this headline and article. "MARION HIGH SCHOOL IS REOPENED TODAY." Followed by "Grade Schools Probably Will Open Next Week."

Formal action opening the Marion High School was taken at a special meeting of the board of education held last evening in the new high school building. A resolution authorizing the opening of the High school was adopted.

After an enforced suspension of three weeks, due to lack of coal, the High school resumed this morning. Coal in sufficient quantities has be received to run the building for some time, it was said this morning. School officials say that it is likely that the grade schools will be opened next week. Announcement of the time of opening the grade schools will be made the last of this week, Superintendent Hartman said this morning. (This new Marion High School, also known later in Marion as the Freshman Building, became Harding High School in 1920.)

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Schools dismissed for fair in 1918, shoe shine price hiked

Today's sentimental journey is taking us to 1918, the last year of World War I, which ended Nov. 11, 1918, and when the Boston Red Sox defeated the Chicago Cubs in the 1918 World Series. Our first